Dividers for boxes



Dec. 13, 1960 D. P. NEMOEDE 2,964,230

DIVIDERS FOR BOXES Filed Dec. 19, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 2 INVENTOR.

Donald P Nemoede BY A TTOR/VEY Dec. 13, 1960 Filed Dec. 19;, 1958 D. P. NEMOEDE DIVIDERS FOR BOXES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Dona/d Nemoede A TTORIVE) United States Patent DIVIDERS FOR BOXES Donald P. Nemoede, Redwood City, Calif, assignor to Bal ak Corporation, Wilmington, Del, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 19, 1958, Ser. No. 781,680

8 Claims. (Cl. 229-42) This invention relates to improvements in the construction of dividing or partitioning devices which subdivide the space of a carton, box or tray into compartments for individual pieces of merchandise.

It has been proposed to form partitioning walls by striking out stock in the form of tabs from a larger panel and to bend or fold the tabs thereafter at right angles to the panel to form partition walls. This construction, if applied to resilient board has the disadvantage that the tabs rarely remain upright but tend, due to the fold resistance of the board at the fold line, to return towards the plane of the panel, thus interfering with the insertion of merchandise into the spaces between the partitions.

It has also been proposed to partition egg cartons into individual cells by pairs of opposed tabs struck out from opposite parallel walls, the tabs being sufficiently long to overlap centrally of the cells. The overlapping portions require connecting by mechanical means to pre vent the tabs from returning towards the plane of the walls from which they were formed.

The present invention provides a construction which takes advantage of the fold resistance of the board at the tab fold lines for the purpose of maintaining the partitions erect. More particularly, each partition is constructed of at least two portions so arranged that the tendency of one portion to fold down in one direction is opposed by the tendency of another to fold down in the opposite direction. This, as far as I am aware, has not heretofore been done. In the aforementioned egg carton construction the oppositely extending partition forming tabs were so arranged that both tabs folded down in the same direction and required mechanical means to prevent such action.

The objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the detailed description which follows accompanied by drawings showing, for the purpose of illustration, a preferred embodiment of the invention. The invention also resides in certain new and original features of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the characteristic features of this invention which are believed to be novel will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, its objects and advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of it in which:

Fig. l is a plane view of a blank from which a partitioned tray may be formed;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the partitioned tray; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a cross-partitioned tray.

In the following description and in the claims various details will be identified by specific names for convenience. The names, however, are intended to be generic in their application. Corresponding reference characters refer to corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Patented Dec. 13, 1960 The drawings accompanying, and forming part of, this specification disclose a specific application of the invention to trays, but it is understood that the invention may be incorporated in other forms, more particularly in the form of an insert for a box, in which event no wall structures are required on the divider structure proper.

The blank A of Fig. 1 is cut from suitable foldable sheet material such as paperboard and comprises a main panel 11 to which side wall panels 12 and 13 are articulated along side fold lines 14 and 15.

End panels 16 and 17 are articulated to the ends of the main panel along end fold lines 18 and 19. Corner flaps 20, 21, 22 and 23 are articulated to the side wall panels along flap fold lines 24, 25, 26 and 27 and may be locked with appropriately shaped internal locking cuts 28, 29, 3t) and 31 in the manner disclosed in the prior patent to Meller No. 2,580,181 issued December 25,

The space between the end fold lines 18 and 19 is subdivided into several portions of equal length 1 by folding scores extending transversely of the panel and arranged in two groups. A group of four folding scores 32, 33, 34 and 35 occupies the left hand portion of the panel 11 and a further group of folding scores 36, 37, 38 and 39 occupies the right hand portion of the panel 11. Folding score 32' is substantially in line with folding score 36, folding score 33 is substantially in line with folding score 37, and so forth.

Substantially U-shaped cuts 40, 41, 42 and 43 extend from, and to, the ends of the first group of folding scores and form a first group of partition tabs 44, 45, 46 and 47.

Similarly, a second group of U-shaped cuts 48, 49, S0 and 51 extend from, and to, the ends of the second group of folding scores 36, 37, 38 and 39. The second group of U profiles are inverted and form a second group of partition tabs 52, 53, 54- and 55.

The contour of the cuts of the one group is so selected with regard to the contour of the U cuts of the other group that the resulting partition tabs overlap slightly centrally of the panel 11 when the partition tabs are folded into right angular position with respect to the panel 11.

In the illustrated embodiment the partition tabs are of substantially symmetrical configuration and overlap slightly at tip portions 56, 57, 58, 59 and 60, 61, 62 and 63. Thus, tabs 44 and 52 form a partition after erection of the box as shown in Fig. 2, with portions 56 and 60 overlapping.

In the assembly procedure of the tray the partition tabs are moved slightly beyond the upright position until,

their overlapping portions snap past one another. In this position the tendency of the tab 44 to return towards the plane of the panel 11 is opposed by the tendency of the tab 52 to fold down in the opposite direction. The partition thus remains upright and does not interfere with insertion of merchandise.

The tray of Fig. 3 is cross-partitioned by one longitudinal and two transverse partitions. The transverse partition is composed of partition tabs 145, 153, out from the main panel 111 by U-shaped cuts 141 and 149, respectively. A second transverse partition is composed of partition tabs 146, 1154, cut from the main panel by cuts 142 and 150, respectively. The partition tabs overlap at 161, 157 and 162, 158.

The longitudinal partition comprises three pairs of tabs 64, 65; 66, 67; 68, 69, cut from the main panel by U-shaped cuts 70, 71, 72, 73, 74 and 75. These pairs of tabs likewise overlap centrally in the same manner as the transverse partition tabs.

ample stock for all the partitions.

Obviously the invention may be incorporated in other forms. For example, partitions may be constructed irom.more than two tabs engaging each other in the manner disclosed herein. Such modifications will readily occur to persons skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

l. A partition structure of foldable sheet material comprising, a panel having transverse upstanding partitions, each partition being formed of a pair of tabs arranged side by side, the tabs being formed by substantially U -shaped cuts extending in two substantially parallel rows from oneend oftthe panel to the other, the U shape of one row being upright, the U shape of the other row being inverted, each U cut starting from and ending at a fold line along which the respective tab remains articulated to the panel, the adjacent ends of the U-shaped tab-forming cuts of any one partition overlapping a common line normal to the fold lines of the tabs of such partition, as a result of which proximate portions of the tabs of each partition overlap when the tabs are upright with respect to the plane of the panel, the fold line of the tab of one row being substantially in line with the fold line of the tab of the other row with which the said tab is paired to form a partition, whereby the tendency of each tab to return to the plane of the panel by reason of stiffness of the stock at the fold line is opposed by the tendency of the tab with which it is paired and overlapped to fold in the opposite direction.

2. A partition structure of foldable sheet material comprising, a panel having an integral transversely disposed upstanding partition thereon, the partition comprising at least two tabs arranged side by side and cut from the panel by substantially U-shaped cuts, the U cut forming one tab being upright and the U cut of the adjacent tab being inverted, the cuts extending trom, and to, tab fold lines along which the tabs remain articulated to the panel, the fold lines of the tabs of the partition being substantially in line, the adjacent ends oi the U-shaped tab-forming cuts of the partition overlapping a common line normal to the fold lines of the tabs of the partition, as a result of which adjacent tabs partially overlap when upright, whereby the tendency of one tab to fold down flat by reason of the stiffness of the board at the fold line is opposed by the tendency of the adjacent tab of the partition to fold down in the opposite direction.

3. A partition structure of foldable sheet material comprising, a panel having substantially parallel integral, transversely disposed partitions thereon, each partition comprising a pair of partition tabs arranged side by side and articulated to the panel along substantially aligned tab fold lines, the tabs being cut from the panel by substantially U-shaped cuts, the U cut forming one tab of a pair being upright, and the U cut forming the other tab of the same pair being inverted, the cuts extending from, and to, and said tab fold lines, adjacent ends of the U-shaped tab-forming cuts of any one partition overlapping a common line normal to the fold lines of the tabs of such partition, as a result of which the tabs of each partition partially overlap within the central portion of the partition, whereby the tendency of one tab to fold down flat by reason of the stilfness of the board at the fold line is opposed by the tendency of the other tab of each pair to fold down in the opposite direction.

4. A partitioned tray of foldable board comprising, in combination, a main panel; side panels articulated to the main panel along side fold lines; end panels articulated to the ends of the main panel along end fold lines; and corner flaps for securing the side and end panels together at the corners, the distance between the end panels being substantially evenly divided by transverse flap fold lines arranged in at least two rows, the fold lines of one row being substantially aligned with the fold lines of the other row, partition tabs being cut from the main panel by substantially U-shaped cuts extending trom, and to, the respective flap fold lines, the U cuts of one row being upright, the U cuts of the other row being inverted, adjacent ends of the U-shaped tab-forming cuts extending from aligned fold lines overlapping a common line normal to said last recited fold lines, as a result of which tabs which are articulated along substantially aligned fold lines overlap centrally of the tray when upright with respect to the plane of the main panel, in which position pairs of interengaged tabs form partitions.

5. A blank adapted to be converted into a box space divider, the blank comprising, a panel having partition tabs cut therefrom by two substantially parallel rows of substantially U-shaped cuts extending from, and to, the ends of tab fold lines along which the tabs remain articulated to the panel, the tab fold lines of one row being substantially in line with the tab fold lines of the other row, the U cuts within one row being upright, and the U cuts within the other row being inverted, adjacent ends of the U-shaped tab-forming cuts overlapping a common line normal to the fold lines of adjacent cuts, as a result of which tabs articulated along substantially aligned fold lines overlap above said common line, if folded upright, so that the tendency of each tab to return towards the plane of the panel due to the stiffness of the stock at the fold line is opposed by the tendency to fold in the oppo site direction of the tab which it overlaps.

6. A blank adapted to be converted into a box space divider, the blank comprising, a panel having partition tabs cut therefrom by two substantially U-shaped cuts extending from, and to, the ends of tab fold lines along which the tabs remain articulated to the panel, the fold lines of both tabs being substantially in line, the U cut of one tab being reverse with respect to the U cut of the other tab, adjacent ends of the U-shaped tab-forming cuts overlapping a common line normal to the said fold lines, as a result of which adjacent tabs overlap partially, when folded upright, so that the tendency of each tab to return towards the plane of the panel due to the stiffness of the stock at the fold line is opposed by the tendency to fold in the opposite direction of the tab which it overlaps.

7. A partition structure of foldable sheet material comprising, a panel having at least one longitudinal and at least one transverse partition thereon, each partition comprising a pair of partition tabs arranged side by side and articulated to the panel along substantially aligned longitudinal and transverse tab fold lines, respectively, the

tabs being cut from the panel by substantially U-shaped cuts, the U cut forming one tab of a pair being reverse with respect of the U cut forming the other tab of the pair, the cuts extending from, and to, said tab fold lines, adjacent ends of the U-shaped tab-forming cuts of any one partition overlapping a common line normal to the fold lines of the tabs of such partition, as a result of which the tabs of each partition partially overlap within the central portion of the partition, whereby the tendency of one tab to fold down flat by reason of the stiffness of the board at the fold line is opposed by the tendency of the other tab of the pair to fold down in the opposite direction.

8. A partitioned tray of foldable board comprising, in combination, a main panel; side panels articulated to the main panel along side fold lines; end panels articulated to the ends of the main panel along end fold lines; and corner flaps for securing the side panels and the end panels together at the corners, the space between the side walls and the space between the end walls being subdivided by at least one longitudinal and at least one transverse partition, each partition comprising a pair of partition tabs arranged side by side and articulated to the panel along substantially aligned longitudinal and transverse tab fold lines, respectively, the tabs being cut from the panel by substantially U-shaped cuts, the U out forming one tab of a pair being reverse with respect of the 5 U cut forming the other tab of the pair, the cuts extending from, and to, said tab fold lines, adjacent ends of the U-shaped tab-forming cuts of any one partition overlapping a common line normal to the fold lines of the tabs of such partition, as a result of which the tabs of each partition partially overlap within the central portion of the partition, whereby the tendency of one tab to fold down flat by reason of the stiffness of the board at the fold line is opposed by the tendency of the other tab of the pair to fold down in the opposite direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2 964 230 December l3 1960 Donald P, Nemoede It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered pat ent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below Column 3, line 56, for "and" second occurrence, read the Signed and sealed this 13th day of June 1961.,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer DAVID L. LADD Commissioner of Patents 

